United States v. Matos
United States v. Matos
Opinion of the Court
Defendant Ariosto Matos ("Matos") moved for pre-trial release and return of seized property ("Motion," Dkt. No. 8) in connection with his arrest prior to the issuance of a one-count indictment dated June 2, 2017, which charges him with distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, in violation of
Matos was arrested on May 15, 2017, during the course of a sting operation in the Bronx. (Motion at 1.) The next day, on May 16, 2017, Matos was presented before Magistrate Judge Gabriel Gorenstein, at which time (1) a Homeland Security Investigations agent swore to a complaint; (2) Matos was ordered detained without bond for fourteen days; and (3) Magistrate Judge Gorenstein scheduled a preliminary hearing for the fourteenth day after Matos's initial appearance, which was May 30, 2017. (See Hr'g Tr., May 16, 2017, United States v. Matos, No. 17-mj-3666, Dkt. No. 6.)
In the days leading up to May 30, 2017, the Government conveyed to defense counsel that it did not believe it would be able to indict Matos before the preliminary hearing date. (Motion at 1.) Following failed negotiations between the parties regarding extending the time for the preliminary hearing, the Government released Matos and dismissed the charges against him on May 30, 2017. (See
On June 1, 2017, Drug Enforcement Administration agents arrested Matos at John F. Kennedy International Airport while he waited to board a flight to the Dominican Republic. (See
Matos argues that the Government "violated Mr. Matos's constitutional and statutory rights when it sidestepped a probable cause hearing and re-arrested Mr. Matos *564on June 1, 2017." (Motion at 3.) According to Matos, the Government violated Matos's procedural due process rights by effectuating a second arrest and holding Matos "for a fifteenth night without judicial approval pursuant to Fed. R. Crim. P.5.1." (Defendant's Reply Memorandum of Law in Support of his Motion, Dkt. No. 10, "Reply Mem." at 1.) Matos sought "pretrial release with conditions and return of property seized during his re-arrest." (Motion at 6.)
On October 27, 2017, the Court denied the Motion. This Decision and Order sets forth the findings, reasoning, and conclusions referenced in the Court's previous ruling.
Pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 5(a)(1)(A), "[a] person making an arrest within the United States must take the defendant without unnecessary delay before a magistrate judge." Fed. R. Crim. P. 5(a)(1)(A). In addition, pursuant to Rule 5.1(c), a preliminary hearing must be held "within a reasonable time, but no later than 14 days after the initial appearance if the defendant is in custody." Fed. R. Crim. P. 5.1(c). A preliminary hearing need not take place if the defendant is indicted. Fed. R. Crim. P. 5.1(a)(2). A failure to timely hold a preliminary hearing requires that a defendant be "discharged from custody ... without prejudice, however, to the institution of further criminal proceedings against him upon the charge upon which he was arrested."
Here, in compliance with
When Matos was held on the night of June 1, 2017, he was not held for a "fifteenth night" as Matos argues (Reply Mem. at 1). The initial charges against him had been dropped and he had been released, thus the clock for the purposes of Rule 5.1 had been reset. The Court is not persuaded by Matos's argument that the Government was obligated to file a new complaint before re-arresting Matos. (See id. at 3-4.) Neither the plain language of Rule 5.1 nor
*565Pursuant to
For the reasons set forth above, it is hereby
ORDERED that the motion (Dkt. No. 8) of Ariosto Matos for pre-trial release and return of seized property is DENIED .
SO ORDERED.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- United States v. Ariosto MATOS
- Status
- Published